Freshmen Lance Comfort and Levi Reynolds grab lunch during the last lunch period of the day at Central High School on Wednesday. Central has close to 1,700 students now with the combined schools.(Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press, Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

Story Highlights

Lunch went off without a hitch, according to Kelly Bush, food services director.

Dave Collins, a Southside parent, volunteered to help students find their classes.

"It's nice to stand here and you can't tell former Southside students from Central students," Tyler said. "They are all One Muncie again and that's cool."

He would share those comments minutes later during an opening ceremony in front of the juniors and seniors in the auditorium.

It was here that the important role the students will play in a successful transition to one high school, One Muncie, was reiterated many times.

Students packed into Central for the first day of the school year on Wednesday. The start of this year marked the first day for the unified school district, which combined what was Southside High School with Central High School. There was an opening day presentation with Superintendent of Public Instruction for Indiana Glenda Ritz after students found their homerooms in the morning. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

Studentspacked into Central for the first day of the school year on Wednesday. The start of this year marked the first day for the unified school district, which combined what was Southside High School with Central High School. There was an opening day presentation with Superintendent of Public Instruction for Indiana Glenda Ritz after students found their homerooms in the morning. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

Students packed into Central for the first day of the school year on Wednesday. The start of this year marked the first day for the unified school district, which combined what was Southside High School with Central High School. There was an opening day presentation with Superintendent of Public Instruction for Indiana Glenda Ritz after students found their homerooms in the morning. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

Students packed into Central for the first day of the school year on Wednesday. The start of this year marked the first day for the unified school district, which combined what was Southside High School with Central High School. There was an opening day presentation with Superintendent of Public Instruction for Indiana Glenda Ritz after students found their homerooms in the morning. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

Students packed into Central for the first day of the school year on Wednesday. The start of this year marked the first day for the unified school district, which combined what was Southside High School with Central High School. There was an opening day presentation with Superintendent of Public Instruction for Indiana Glenda Ritz after students found their homerooms in the morning. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

Students packed into Central for the first day of the school year on Wednesday. The start of this year marked the first day for the unified school district, which combined what was Southside High School with Central High School. There was an opening day presentation with Superintendent of Public Instruction for Indiana Glenda Ritz after students found their homerooms in the morning. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

Students packed into Central for the first day of the school year on Wednesday. The start of this year marked the first day for the unified school district, which combined what was Southside High School with Central High School. There was an opening day presentation with Superintendent of Public Instruction for Indiana Glenda Ritz after students found their homerooms in the morning. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

Students packed into Central for the first day of the school year on Wednesday. The start of this year marked the first day for the unified school district, which combined what was Southside High School with Central High School. There was an opening day presentation with Superintendent of Public Instruction for Indiana Glenda Ritz after students found their homerooms in the morning. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

Students packed into Central for the first day of the school year on Wednesday. The start of this year marked the first day for the unified school district, which combined what was Southside High School with Central High School. There was an opening day presentation with Superintendent of Public Instruction for Indiana Glenda Ritz after students found their homerooms in the morning. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

Shalanna Morgan walks into Central for the first day of the school year on Wednesday. The start of this year marked the first day for the unified school district, which combined what was Southside High School with Central High School. There was an opening day presentation with Superintendent of Public Instruction for Indiana Glenda Ritz after students found their homerooms in the morning. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

Central teacher Tim Janeway helps students find their way around the building during the first day of the school year on Wednesday. The start of this year marked the first day for the unified school district, which combined what was Southside High School with Central High School. There was an opening day presentation with Superintendent of Public Instruction for Indiana Glenda Ritz after students found their homerooms in the morning. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

Students packed into Central for the first day of the school year on Wednesday. The start of this year marked the first day for the unified school district, which combined what was Southside High School with Central High School. There was an opening day presentation with Superintendent of Public Instruction for Indiana Glenda Ritz after students found their homerooms in the morning. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

Students packed into Central for the first day of the school year on Wednesday. The start of this year marked the first day for the unified school district, which combined what was Southside High School with Central High School. There was an opening day presentation with Superintendent of Public Instruction for Indiana Glenda Ritz after students found their homerooms in the morning. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

Students packed into Central for the first day of the school year on Wednesday. The start of this year marked the first day for the unified school district, which combined what was Southside High School with Central High School. There was an opening day presentation with Superintendent of Public Instruction for Indiana Glenda Ritz after students found their homerooms in the morning. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

Principal Tom Jarvis helps dozens of administrators and parent volunteers sort the dozens of students that occasionally became lost in the sprawling halls of Central on Wednesday. The new school year meant the school was fully staffed for an influx of students needing to adjust to a new building. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

Students packed into Central for the first day of the school year on Wednesday. The start of this year marked the first day for the unified school district, which combined what was Southside High School with Central High School. There was an opening day presentation with Superintendent of Public Instruction for Indiana Glenda Ritz after students found their homerooms in the morning. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

Students packed into Central for the first day of the school year on Wednesday. The start of this year marked the first day for the unified school district, which combined what was Southside High School with Central High School. There was an opening day presentation with Superintendent of Public Instruction for Indiana Glenda Ritz after students found their homerooms in the morning. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

Students packed into Central for the first day of the school year on Wednesday. The start of this year marked the first day for the unified school district, which combined what was Southside High School with Central High School. There was an opening day presentation with Superintendent of Public Instruction for Indiana Glenda Ritz after students found their homerooms in the morning. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

Students packed into Central for the first day of the school year on Wednesday. The start of this year marked the first day for the unified school district, which combined what was Southside High School with Central High School. There was an opening day presentation with Superintendent of Public Instruction for Indiana Glenda Ritz after students found their homerooms in the morning. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

Students packed into Central for the first day of the school year on Wednesday. The start of this year marked the first day for the unified school district, which combined what was Southside High School with Central High School. There was an opening day presentation with Superintendent of Public Instruction for Indiana Glenda Ritz after students found their homerooms in the morning. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

Parent volunteer Leah Chandler helps some students find where their homerooms are before first period on the first day of school Wednesday at Central High School. The school now has close to 1,700 students enrolled during the first year of a combined high school. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

Students packed into Central for the first day of the school year on Wednesday. The start of this year marked the first day for the unified school district, which combined what was Southside High School with Central High School. There was an opening day presentation with Superintendent of Public Instruction for Indiana Glenda Ritz after students found their homerooms in the morning. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

Students packed into Central for the first day of the school year on Wednesday. The start of this year marked the first day for the unified school district, which combined what was Southside High School with Central High School. There was an opening day presentation with Superintendent of Public Instruction for Indiana Glenda Ritz after students found their homerooms in the morning. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

Students packed into Central for the first day of the school year on Wednesday. The start of this year marked the first day for the unified school district, which combined what was Southside High School with Central High School. There was an opening day presentation with Superintendent of Public Instruction for Indiana Glenda Ritz after students found their homerooms in the morning. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

Students packed into Central for the first day of the school year on Wednesday. The start of this year marked the first day for the unified school district, which combined what was Southside High School with Central High School. There was an opening day presentation with Superintendent of Public Instruction for Indiana Glenda Ritz after students found their homerooms in the morning. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

Students packed into Central for the first day of the school year on Wednesday. The start of this year marked the first day for the unified school district, which combined what was Southside High School with Central High School. There was an opening day presentation with Superintendent of Public Instruction for Indiana Glenda Ritz after students found their homerooms in the morning. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

Students packed into Central for the first day of the school year on Wednesday. The start of this year marked the first day for the unified school district, which combined what was Southside High School with Central High School. There was an opening day presentation with Superintendent of Public Instruction for Indiana Glenda Ritz after students found their homerooms in the morning. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

Students packed into Central for the first day of the school year on Wednesday. The start of this year marked the first day for the unified school district, which combined what was Southside High School with Central High School. There was an opening day presentation with Superintendent of Public Instruction for Indiana Glenda Ritz after students found their homerooms in the morning. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

Students packed into Central for the first day of the school year on Wednesday. The start of this year marked the first day for the unified school district, which combined what was Southside High School with Central High School. There was an opening day presentation with Superintendent of Public Instruction for Indiana Glenda Ritz after students found their homerooms in the morning. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

Students packed into Central for the first day of the school year on Wednesday. The start of this year marked the first day for the unified school district, which combined what was Southside High School with Central High School. There was an opening day presentation with Superintendent of Public Instruction for Indiana Glenda Ritz after students found their homerooms in the morning. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

Students packed into Central for the first day of the school year on Wednesday. The start of this year marked the first day for the unified school district, which combined what was Southside High School with Central High School. There was an opening day presentation with Superintendent of Public Instruction for Indiana Glenda Ritz after students found their homerooms in the morning. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

Students packed into Central for the first day of the school year on Wednesday. The start of this year marked the first day for the unified school district, which combined what was Southside High School with Central High School. There was an opening day presentation with Superintendent of Public Instruction for Indiana Glenda Ritz after students found their homerooms in the morning. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

Students packed into Central for the first day of the school year on Wednesday. The start of this year marked the first day for the unified school district, which combined what was Southside High School with Central High School. There was an opening day presentation with Superintendent of Public Instruction for Indiana Glenda Ritz after students found their homerooms in the morning. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

Students packed into Central for the first day of the school year on Wednesday. The start of this year marked the first day for the unified school district, which combined what was Southside High School with Central High School. There was an opening day presentation with Superintendent of Public Instruction for Indiana Glenda Ritz after students found their homerooms in the morning. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

Students packed into Central for the first day of the school year on Wednesday. The start of this year marked the first day for the unified school district, which combined what was Southside High School with Central High School. There was an opening day presentation with Superintendent of Public Instruction for Indiana Glenda Ritz after students found their homerooms in the morning. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

Students packed into Central for the first day of the school year on Wednesday. The start of this year marked the first day for the unified school district, which combined what was Southside High School with Central High School. There was an opening day presentation with Superintendent of Public Instruction for Indiana Glenda Ritz after students found their homerooms in the morning. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

Students packed into Central for the first day of the school year on Wednesday. The start of this year marked the first day for the unified school district, which combined what was Southside High School with Central High School. There was an opening day presentation with Superintendent of Public Instruction for Indiana Glenda Ritz after students found their homerooms in the morning. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

The cafeteria and hallways flowed smoothly with student traffic despite the amount of students traveling the halls during lunch and passing periods. Wednesday was the first day back for Central, which is now the combined High school for Muncie following the closing of Southside last year. The Southside building is now the middle school. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

The cafeteria and hallways flowed smoothly with student traffic despite the amount of students traveling the halls during lunch and passing periods. Wednesday was the first day back for Central, which is now the combined High school for Muncie following the closing of Southside last year. The Southside building is now the middle school. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

The cafeteria and hallways flowed smoothly with student traffic despite the amount of students traveling the halls during lunch and passing periods. Wednesday was the first day back for Central, which is now the combined High school for Muncie following the closing of Southside last year. The Southside building is now the middle school. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

The cafeteria and hallways flowed smoothly with student traffic despite the amount of students traveling the halls during lunch and passing periods. Wednesday was the first day back for Central, which is now the combined High school for Muncie following the closing of Southside last year. The Southside building is now the middle school. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

The cafeteria and hallways flowed smoothly with student traffic despite the amount of students traveling the halls during lunch and passing periods. Wednesday was the first day back for Central, which is now the combined High school for Muncie following the closing of Southside last year. The Southside building is now the middle school. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

Freshmen Lance Comfort and Levi Reynolds grab lunch during the last lunch period of the day at Central High School on Wednesday. Central has close to 1,700 students now with the combined schools. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

Students chat and grab food during the last lunch period of the day at Central High School on Wednesday during the first day back. Many kids needed a little help finding their way around the building during the first day for the combined school. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

The cafeteria and hallways flowed smoothly with student traffic despite the amount of students traveling the halls during lunch and passing periods. Wednesday was the first day back for Central, which is now the combined High school for Muncie following the closing of Southside last year. The Southside building is now the middle school. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

The cafeteria and hallways flowed smoothly with student traffic despite the amount of students traveling the halls during lunch and passing periods. Wednesday was the first day back for Central, which is now the combined High school for Muncie following the closing of Southside last year. The Southside building is now the middle school. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

The cafeteria and hallways flowed smoothly with student traffic despite the amount of students traveling the halls during lunch and passing periods. Wednesday was the first day back for Central, which is now the combined High school for Muncie following the closing of Southside last year. The Southside building is now the middle school. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

The cafeteria and hallways flowed smoothly with student traffic despite the amount of students traveling the halls during lunch and passing periods. Wednesday was the first day back for Central, which is now the combined High school for Muncie following the closing of Southside last year. The Southside building is now the middle school. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

The cafeteria and hallways flowed smoothly with student traffic despite the amount of students traveling the halls during lunch and passing periods. Wednesday was the first day back for Central, which is now the combined High school for Muncie following the closing of Southside last year. The Southside building is now the middle school. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

The cafeteria and hallways flowed smoothly with student traffic despite the amount of students traveling the halls during lunch and passing periods. Wednesday was the first day back for Central, which is now the combined High school for Muncie following the closing of Southside last year. The Southside building is now the middle school. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

Howard Rodriguez talks with Jacob Miller while they wait for lunch to release near the end of the day. Wednesday was the first day back for Central, which is now the combined High school for Muncie following the closing of Southside last year. The Southside building is now the middle school. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

The cafeteria and hallways flowed smoothly with student traffic despite the amount of students traveling the halls during lunch and passing periods. Wednesday was the first day back for Central, which is now the combined High school for Muncie following the closing of Southside last year. The Southside building is now the middle school. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

The cafeteria and hallways flowed smoothly with student traffic despite the amount of students traveling the halls during lunch and passing periods. Wednesday was the first day back for Central, which is now the combined High school for Muncie following the closing of Southside last year. The Southside building is now the middle school. (Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)

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Principal Tom Jarvis said they were the leaders of the school. School Board President Tony Costello said the same. Ditto for MCS Supt. Tim Heller.

"There's going to be peaks and valleys today, there's going to be some next week," he said. "But you're veterans. You have been around and you know how to behave and be role models."

'Well-planned journey'

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz, who was given a Central letter jacket with "Ritz 2014" on the back, told the students to take charge of their education — "own your learning, set your own pathway."

Later, Ritz told The Star Press that this day — this transition — was a "historic event."

She said the district was a leader in doing it correctly.

"This was a well-planned journey and I think this school is ready to give kids opportunities," she said. "It's all about the students. They have done what's best for the students and Muncie is going to be better for it."

Before the board voted to merge Southside and Central high schools, there were town hall meetings and countless discussions. After the vote, more than 20 committees were formed to handle everything from scheduling classes to moving equipment to empowering student leaders to tailgating at the first football game.

Ritz said she's not concerned about students adapting to the new school. "It is my belief that students are flexible," she said. "Change is not always easy for adults, but change is usually quite easy for students. So I don't have any doubts that this will be a great school year."

She said MCS has been very proactive when it comes to dealing with issues such as consolidation and busing.

"When (MCS) sees challenges, they know they need to address them and put in place whatever needs to happen to make things work," she said.

Volunteers directing traffic

Jarvis would tell you that, so far, Central is working.

He estimated that there were about 1,750 students at Central on Wednesday, including more than 100 students new to the district this year.

That number will likely fluctuate, he said later, with the large number of students still enrolling — more than 60 enrolled by 2 p.m.

To help these kids get around the first few days of school were more than 30 volunteers, from parents to alumni to local clergy members, who offered to hang out in the hallways and direct student traffic, wrestle with uncooperative locker combinations and find lost schedules.

During passing periods, the halls were noticeably more crowded, with students wandering with their heads down, studying the single white sheet of paper that listed their class schedule, their roadmap for the rest of the semester.

Dave Collins, a Southside parent who vocalized his disappointment with the merger during several town hall meetings, volunteered to help students find their classes on the second floor.

At the end of the day, after pointing countless kids in the right direction, he said he was impressed by how well it all played out. "Very smooth," he added.

After school, a group of math teachers were gathered outside their classrooms on the second floor, sharing notes on the day. All agreed that the day went well. Much better than any of them thought, in fact.

Lunch, which some thought might pose the most problems because of the large number of students in one place, went off without a hitch, according to Kelly Bush, food services director. Well, unless you count those students who were a little upset that they couldn't find spots together at tables that filled up quickly.

Volunteer Paul Irminger (from One-Eighty) said he watched as one student who was sitting by himself at lunch was motioned over by a group of students who shook his hand and asked him his name.

"I think it just shows that the barriers that we think are going to be in the school are just in the minds of some of the adults and not necessarily in the minds of these students," he said.

'We made it'

What was in the minds of most of these students was lockers, classrooms and schedules, much like any other first day.